ATTORNEY III

Salary range: $10,852.00 - $15,325.00 per month. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Location: Alameda County (Oakland office). Hybrid telework arrangement with alternative work location at the employee’s residence. Travel reimbursement based on the Oakland office location.

Position type: Permanent, full-time. One position available.

About the Department

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serves, protects, and supports the people of California experiencing need by empowering wellbeing and disrupting systemic inequities. Our vision is to provide quality services with a commitment to an inclusive, diverse, and equitable California where all people can thrive.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Belonging: We ensure opportunities for everyone to participate meaningfully in fulfilling the CDSS mission.
• Community Engagement: We prioritize lived experiences of community members as a driving force behind program creation and implementation.
• Empowerment: We engage and advocate from the understanding that each community and person has desires and capabilities to lead in their own life.
• Quality Services: We provide services that align intent and impact by ensuring they are accessible, community-driven, interconnected, and continuously improved.
• Data-Defined Outcomes: We equitably collect and analyze data, take data-driven action, and measure outcomes relevant to those we serve, ensuring transparency and accountability.

About the Role

The CDSS Legal Division is recruiting for an Attorney III position in its Community Care Licensing (CCL) Enforcement Branch. This role is critical in enforcing statutes and regulations to protect the health and safety of children, the elderly, and dependent adults in licensed or approved facilities such as:

• Resource family homes
• Short-term residential therapeutic programs
• Child care centers and family child care homes
• Residential facilities for the elderly
• Adult residential facilities

The Attorney III serves as an expert in complex and sensitive legal matters related to CDSS programs, providing advice to the Community Care Licensing Division and county clients. This role involves regular appearances before administrative tribunals statewide to represent the interests of individuals receiving care or residing in community care facilities.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute cases involving license revocations, license application denials, and employee/licensee exclusion actions.
• Develop evidence, strategies, and tactics to litigate a wide range of cases, including those involving child maltreatment and elder abuse.
• Apply expertise in evidentiary rules, hearsay exception statutes, and trial-related theories.
• Facilitate settlements and negotiate stipulations where appropriate.
• Collaborate with licensing clients, witnesses, victims, medical staff, qualified experts, investigators, criminal prosecutors, law enforcement, and others to effectively prosecute complex cases.
• Travel as required for hearings, client meetings, and witness interviews.

Requirements

• Expertise in laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to CDSS-administered programs.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and excellent analytical abilities.
• Self-motivated with a commitment to public service.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
• Successful clearance of a Background Investigation prior to hire.
• Fingerprinting clearance by the Department of Justice is required.
• This position is designated under the Conflict-of-Interest Code; accurate and complete employment history is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification for Attorney III. Education verification (unofficial transcripts) is required if meeting minimum qualifications through education. Official transcripts may be required upon hire.

Candidates residing outside California may interview but must provide proof of California residency prior to appointment.

Application Process

Interested applicants must submit:

• A completed State Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) or electronic application via CalCareers.
• A Summary of Qualifications (SOQ), not exceeding two pages (12-point type), detailing how education, training, experience, and skills meet the job description and duty statement. The SOQ serves as documentation of written communication skills.
• Optional: Resume and cover letter (will not replace the SOQ).

Applications without an SOQ will not be considered. Confidential information (e.g., SSN, birthday, photos, ID numbers, driver’s license number unless required) must be excluded from all submitted documents.

Final filing date: 8/18/2026.